Law undergraduates – penultimate year

Now is the time for you to really start thinking about what you want from your future career as a Commercial Lawyer. You should be thinking about the type of firm you want to work for and the type of work you’re interested in. You’ll need to knuckle down, do your research, meet as many firms as possible on campus and start the application process for Vacation Schemes.

Vacation Schemes will provide you with an excellent opportunity to spend time in a firm finding out what life as a Commercial Lawyer involves. You’ll experience the working culture of the firm, meet a range of people and, most importantly, find out if it’s the right firm for you. Baker McKenzie runs a Summer Vacation Scheme for which Penultimate Year students are eligible to apply. The three-week scheme comprises two seats, giving you an opportunity to experience two of our key practice areas.

Just as importantly, you should visit law fairs, speak to your careers advisor, engage with the student law society at your university and attend firm presentations and drop-in sessions. The majority of firms will conduct interviews for Vacation Schemes, so it’s worth speaking with your careers service or attending employer workshops on interviews and assessment centres.

Now is also the time to start applying for Training Contracts. Again, make sure you do your research as a Training Contract is a big commitment. Open Days will also be useful as they can give you a real feel for the culture of a firm. Be sure to promote your overall employability at these events – tell firms about your work experience, part-time employment, committee membership, involvement in sports teams and voluntary work. These will all strengthen your application.